July  16,  1896. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDEXER. 
67 
ttebles,  open,  Messrs.  Frank  Cant  &  Co.  were  a  good  first,  with  fine  large 
triplets  ;  D.  Prior  &  Son  second,  and  B.  R.  Cant  third. 
“  A  12'  guinea  challenge  cup  for  twenty-four  Roses  (amateurs)  was 
offered  for  the  first  time,  and  this  was  easily  won  by  Rev.  J.  H. 
Pemberton,  Comte  Raimbaud,  Horace  Vernet,  and  Charles  Lefebvre 
being  finely  shown.  Rev.  H.  A.  Berners  w»s  second  with  good  blooms 
of  Jean  Soupert,  and  Alfred  Colomb;  Rev.  A.  Foster-Melliar  a  poor 
third.  For  twelve  Teas  (amateurs)  Mr,  Orpen  was  a  fairly  good  first, 
his  Maman  Cochet  and  Ernest  Metz  being  fine.  Rev.  A.  Foster- 
Melliar  was  second,  showing  good  blooms  of  The  Bride  and  Comtesse 
Panisse.  Rev,  H,  A.  Berners  was  third.  In  six  H.P.’s  of  a  sort 
(amateurs)  Rev.  J.  H.  Pemberton  was  first  with  A.  K.  Williams,  and 
Rev.  A.  Foster-Melliar  second  with  Merveille  de  Lyon.  In  six  Teas  of 
a  sort  Mr.  Orpen  was  first  with  Comtesse  de  Nadaillac,  and  Rev. 
A.  Foster-Melliar  second  with  Catherine  Mermet.  There  were  several 
exhibits  in  each  of  these  classes,  but  only  two  prizes  scheduled,  Mr. 
Orpen  won  in  six  garden  Roses  without  any  competition.  In  four 
trebles  Rev.  J.  H,  Pemberton  was  first,  showing  fine  H.P.’s ;  Mr.  Orpen 
second,  showing  all  Teas,  among  them  a  fine  triplet  of  Maman  Cochet. 
The  local  classes  were  tolerably  filled. 
“  Messrs.  Frank  Cant  &  Co.  showed  a  good  exhibit,  not  for  competition, 
of  upwards  of  fifty  distinct  bunches  of  garden  Roses  a  little  off  colour, 
which,  considering  the  weather  and  the  season,  could  not  be  wondered  at. 
Rev.  J.  H.  Pemberton  won  the  medal  for  best  H.P.  with  A.  K.  Williams, 
and  Mr.  Orpen  had  a  like  honour  in  Teas  with  Comtesse  de  Nadaillac.” 
What  we  have  to  say  now  is  that  whit  the  authorities  above 
mentioned  have  said  is  true.  The  Abbey  grounds  were  beautiful  and 
enjoyable,  the  show  was  extensive  and  diversified,  officials  active  and 
courteous,  the  town  gay,  visitors  numerous,  and  the  event  appeared  to 
be  a  gratifying  success. 
Perhaps  next  to  the  Roses  the  cut  flower  tent  was  the  chief  source  of 
attraction.  There  was  a  grand  display  of  hardy  flowers  in  imposing 
bunches,  fresh,  bright,  and  beautiful  ;  wonderful  collections  of  Sweet 
Peas,  not  all  shown  in  closely  packed  bunches,  but  the  majority  freely  and 
tastefully  disposed  with  leafy  growths,  which  added  materially  to  their 
charms.  There  were  also  nine  or  ten  florally  decorated  tables,  no  light 
task  for  the  Judges  ;  but  in  one  class  we  observed  that  Mrs.  Orpen  was 
awarded  the  premier  honour  with  a  study  in  small  delicate  pink  Roses, 
followed  by  Miss  Gilbert,  Ipswich,  with  Stenactis  speciosa,  and  Mr. 
J.  A.  Burness  with  Sweet  Peas.  Then  Miss  Dndley,  Melton,  had  a  prize 
arrangement  of  Sweet  Peas,  Miss  Kemp  following  with  Sweet  Sultans, 
There  were  epergnes,  also  baskets  and  banks  of  flowers,  very  delightful, 
as  well  as  bouquets  and  sprays  ;  while  Messrs.  R.  Wallace  &  Co.  had  a 
rich  assortment  of  Liliums  and  beautiful  Calochorti. 
A  large  marquee  was  devoted  to  plants,  among  which  Fuchsias 
were  better  than  usual,  but  not  half  the  size  of  those  shown  at  Bath 
and  Trowbridge.  Tuberous  Begonias  in  classes,  also  in  groups  with 
Gloxinias,  Ferns,  and  pleasing  Achimenes,  were  features  of  the  show, 
while  groups  of  plants  were  less  packed  than  on  former  occasions,  and 
therefore  the  more  meritorious. 
Fruit  was  admirably  represented,  and  in  many  classes  the  competi- 
tion  was  very  close  indeed,  Mr.  W.  Messenger,  gardener  to  C.  H. 
Berners,  Esq.,  Wolverstone  Park,  was  the  chief  prizewinner  in  the  class 
for  eight  dishes  with  good  Black  Alicante  and  Buckland  Sweetwater 
Grapes,  fine  Peaches,  Nectarines,  Cherries,  and  Figs,  a  good  Melon,  and 
British  Queen  Strawberries.  Mr,  A.  Andrews,  gardener  to  the  Hon. 
W^.  Lowther,  Campsea  Ashe,  was  an  excellent  second,  good  Black 
Hamburgh  Grapes  and  very  fine  Peaches  and  Nectarines,  with  good 
Raspberries,  being  bis  noteworthy  dishes.  Mr.  T.  King,  gardener  to 
J.  A.  Burness,  Esq.,  Melton,  was  first  with  black  Grapes — two  bunches 
of  good  Hamburgbs.  Mr,  Andrews  second  with  the  same  variety  ; 
Messrs,  Fisher  and  Messenger  equal  third,  the  last  named  staging  Black 
Alicante.  In  the  white  Grape  class  Mr.  King  was  first  with  Muscats, ' 
Mr,  Fisher  following  with  very  fine  Buckland  Sweetwater.  Melons, 
Gooseberries,  and  Strawberries  were  fairly  well  showm.  Cherries, 
Currants,  and  Raspberries  splendidly  represented. 
Vegetables  were  as  good  as  could  be  desired — not  unwieldy  giants, 
but  quite  large  enough,  clean,  and  of  excellent  table  quality.  Mr.  King 
won  the  cup  with  a  collection  including  Peas,  Cauliflowers,  Onions, 
Vegetable  Marrows,  French  Beans,  Broad  Beans,  Beet,  Potatoes, 
Cucumbers,  Turnips,  and  Tomatoes.  In  another  class  Mr.  Andrew’s 
was  the  leading  exhibitor  with  a  similarly  meritorious  collection. 
The  cottagers’  tent,  which  was  not  large  enough,  contained  magnifl- 
cent  Peas,  Beans,  Potatoes,  Onions,  Cabbages,  Carrots ;  also  small  fruits, 
honey,  and  garden  flowers. 
The  show  in  its  entirety  was  a  wonderful  one  for  a  town  of  about 
6000  inhabitants  ;  but  then  everybody  who  is  anybody  seems  to  take 
personal  interest  in  it ;  while  the  officials — Mr.  J..  Carthew,  Chairman  ; 
Messrs.  John  Andrews  and  W.  Brinkley,  Honorary  Secretaries  ;  with 
the  members  of  the  Committee — all  work  together  zealously  and 
harmoniously,  with  one  object  in  view  and  one  only,  and  this  they 
deserve  and  achieve — success. 
CLIPS  FOR  CARNATIONS. 
I  AM  sending  you  the  block  of  my  new  clip  ;  you  will  see  the  par¬ 
ticulars  on  the  enclosed  card.  If  you  could  insert  it  in  your  paper  I 
should  be  obliged,  feeling  sure  when  the  thing  is  well  1  nown  it  will  do 
away  with  a  considerable  amount  of  labour  in  tying,  I  am  also 
sending  you  one  of  my  .S  feet  sticks  (cut  in  three  for  convenience  of 
postage),  which  will  give  you  some  idea  of  the  beautiful  stick  that  is 
made  for  the  purpose,  and  I  feel  sure  it  will  be  a  great  boon  to  all  those 
who,  like  myself,  like  everything  very  neat  and  precise. — Robert 
Sydenham,  Birmingham, 
[No  one  can  see  Mr.  Sydenham’s  garden,  situated  in  the  beautiful 
Bristol  Road,  Birmingham,  without  admiring  its  extreme  order,  neatness. 
and  attractiveness.  Carnations  are  splendidly  grown  in  pots,  three 
span-roofed  houses  being  filled  with  the  leading  florists’  varieties,  every 
stem  being  supported  in  the  manner  depicted  in  the  illustration.  The 
tedious  work  of  tying  is  obsolete,  and  the  saving  in  time  by  the  use  of 
the  clips  must  pay  for  their  small  cost  over  and  over  again.  Simplicity, 
celerity,  and  efficiency  are  combined  in  the  use  of  thi.s  little  appliance, 
which  is  in  fact  as  well  as  in  name — a  clipper.] 
HARDY  FRUII  GARDEN. 
Z*eedlngr  Pruit  Trees. — The  provision  of  a  due  amount  of  nutri¬ 
ment  for  the  roots  of  fruit  trees  bearing  a  considerable  crop  is  a  matter 
needing  attention  at  the  present  time.  Trees  are  frequently  over¬ 
cropped,  with  the  result  that  their  fruit-bearing  powers  are  reduced  for 
the  succeeding  year,  simply  because  the  proper  amount  of  assistance  has 
not  been  afforded  during  the  important  period  when  developing  fruit 
takes  so  much  from  the  soil.  A  dry  period  increases  the  risks  which 
freely  cropped  trees  are  subject  to.  Bearing  this  in  mind,  therefore,  the 
first  detail  necessary  to  be  looked  to  is,  that  a  moist  condition  of  the 
soil  in  which  the  roots  extend  must  be  maintained.  Stimulating  and 
feeding  substances  cannot  properly  act  unless  there  is  moisture  in  the 
soil  to  make  them  soluble  for  conveyance  to  the  roots. 
After  the  fruit  has  set,  and  timely  thinnings  given  to  lighten  the 
burden  of  fruit,  feeding  may  commence.  The  principal  substances 
which  soils  require  adding  artificially  from  time  to  time  are  lime, 
